A NEW Co-op store could be built at a former car sales site in Ipplepen, allowing the village’s existing shop to relocate from Fore Street.

A planning application - reference 26/01433/FUL - has been submitted to Teignbridge Council seeking permission to demolish the former sales office and canopy at Parkfield Service Station, pictured, and their replacement with a new Co-op store.

The new building would be positioned centrally within the site in a similar location to the existing sales office; the garage at the rear of the site would remain as existing.

The application, submitted by Vision Retail (Southern) Ltd, would allow the existing Co-op on Fore Street to relocate.

Teignbridge Council is expected to decide on the plans by November 16.

Planning documents say the current Co-op is ‘no longer fit for purpose’, with the size of the shop limiting the amount of shelf space and the range of products it can offer.

The applicant claims this is causing customers to shop at larger stores elsewhere.

The Co-op says it wants to remain in Ipplepen, but argues there are no suitable premises within the village centre that could provide the space needed for a larger shop, back-of-house facilities and dedicated parking.

The proposed replacement store would have 12 parking spaces, including one disabled-accessible space, as well as cycle parking for eight bicycles.

The applicants say the new store would better meet the community’s daily and top-up shopping needs, while also serving the 100 new homes earmarked in Ipplepen’s neighbourhood plan.

The existing vehicular access from Totnes Road would be utilised as part of the development, with a dedicated footpath provided to the front of the site, which would link into the existing pavement network.

To the side of the proposed store, a gated access would be provided to allow customers and staff to access the retained garage at the rear of the site.

To view the planning documents in full, and to comment on the application, visit Teignbridge Council’s planning portal and enter ‘26/01433/FUL’ into the search-box.